Original Research
Antimicrobial Stewardship in an Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Program
Spearheaded by a multidisciplinary team, this outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy program provided a cost-effective, safe alternative to a...
A handheld device may be the end of pressure ulcers, commonly known as bedsores. That is, a device that combines motion analysis, thermal profiling, image classification and segmentation, 3-D object reconstruction, and vapor detection.
The innovative probe integrates multiple sensing capabilities with analytics and user support features to more acutely measure pressure ulcer formation and to determine whether an ulcer is healing, according to VA.
Related: Mattress Cleaning—More Than Surface-Deep
Pressure ulcers are pervasive, but preventable, says Ting Yu, General Electric’s principal investigator in the pressure ulcer prevention and care program. According to Mr. Yu, the device “provides a more objective and comprehensive assessment of the wound,” which helps the clinician understand its progression.
Related: Antimicrobial Stewardship in an Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Program
The VA Center for Innovation and General Electric Global Research have sponsored a multidisciplinary team to develop and test the device in a pilot study at the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at the Charlie Norwood VAMC in Augusta, Georgia.
Related: Bold Ideas Competition
“We are pleased to work with GE to pilot a technology that holds the promise of revolutionizing the protocol for preventing and treating painful bed sores,” VA Interim Under Secretary for Health Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, said. “By combining physical inspection with the technology capable of allowing real-time monitoring, we may be able to prevent ulcers from forming or advancing.”